THE NE PLUS ULTRA OF FIELD TRIPS: FORTUNY IN VENICE

Living room of Paul's Nob Hill pied-à-terre elegantly furnished with a mixture of antiques and comfortable seating (Ottoman in "Caravaggio" in gold museum and pillows of "Carnavalet" in avocado green and silvery gold on the sofa) Photos by Matthew Millman, unless indicated otherwise

In 1919, artist Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo opened the Fortuny factory in Venice. Originally producing fabrics for churches, museums, and the theater, Fortuny's fame grew when he began working in fashion. 

After seeing Fortuny fabrics hanging in the Carnavalet Museum in Paris in 1927,  Elsie McNeill Lee, a New York interior designer, was so enamored that she traveled to Venice to meet Mariano Fortuny. She convinced him that the fabrics were perfect to offer to interior designers and decorators. She became his exclusive distributor and, after his passing in 1949, took over the company. 

With the death of her first husband, Elsie married Italian Count Alvise Gozzi. She became known simply as "La Contessa." She hand-picked Maged Riad, her attorney, to take over the company in 1988,  and it has remained in the talented hands of the Riad family since that time.

Paul and Fortuny owner Maury Riad in Venice in 2010 Photographer unknown

For an interior designer, it is hard to imagine a greater mecca than the Fortuny factory and showroom in Venice. Paul Wiseman traveled there in 2010 for a nostalgic tour given by current owner Maury Riad. Paul first visited in 1985 when La Contessa Gozzi was still alive. After selling more Fortuny fabric that year than anyone else in the United States, he was invited to travel to Venice as her guest.

Paul booked passage on the Orient Express from Paris to Venice. On arrival, he was transported from the train station in the company's water limousine -- upholstered in what else but Fortuny! He stayed at the luxurious Hotel Gritti Palace, former residence of the Duke Andre Gritti. He was invited to tour the Fortuny showroom and garden with La Contessa. When at her home later for drinks, he was treated to a tour of her private dress collection. They then had dinner for two at Harry's Bar. Truly a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime tête-à-tête with an icon of the design world!

The ultimate luxury -- sleeping in Fortuny on Nob Hill! (Headboard and custom  bed coverlet in "Campanelle" in Rembrandt rust, straw, and silvery gold)

Fortuny continues to represent the ultimate in luxury. The Wiseman Group recognizes the beauty and timelessness of their fabrics and is a large customer of the company. In one particularly sumptuous project, Paul created a richly subtle palette for his own Nob Hill pied-à-terre by using Fortuny fabrics throughout.

Display niche with shelves upholstered in "Caravaggio"

Cover of Fortuny Interiors, 2012 Photo by Erik Kvalsvik

To learn more about the history of this magical company and to see gorgeous interiors incorporating their lush fabrics (including Paul's Nob Hill pied-à-terre) read Fortuny Interiors, by Brian Coleman. ~

MAURICIO MUNOZ, Architectural Design Principal

Mauricio Munoz, head of The Wiseman Group’s interior architectural department, has a life story both fascinating and compelling. This calm, confident man, at the top of his professional game, offers little outward evidence of the long road that led to his living the American dream.

Born in Chile to a Spanish mother and Chilean father, Mauricio was raised with his mother’s European sensibilities, which included a deep appreciation for the cultural arts. His family’s devotion to intellectual pursuits was especially significant in light of what was happening in Chile at the time. The fascist regime of Pinochet, with its climate of fear and the pervasive threat of violence, forced Mauricio to mature quickly.

As a young man, Mauricio studied architecture in a highly innovative program at the University Catolica de Valparaiso. Guided by masters of modern Chilean architecture, his mentors helped him develop keen perceptual skills and a nonlinear, poetic understanding of how to beautify spaces. He graduated from the program with a degree in architecture and obtained a license to practice in Chile.

Mauricio, however, could not abide the chilling effects of the country’s dictatorship, and, in his late twenties, left Chile for California. While it had not been his intention to move to the Bay Area permanently, economic realities forced him to change course and stay. What followed were several years of struggle learning to speak English and establishing himself in a new country. He worked hard to make ends meet and eventually decided to return to the world of architecture. With perseverance and determination, he spent late nights mastering the techniques of computer-aided drawing and design.

A series of fortuitous events landed Mauricio a job as a temporary employee at TWG. Paul Wiseman recognized his extraordinary combination of talents and retained him as a valued member of the staff in 2001. Mauricio often manages complicated projects, both interpreting Paul’s vision and working with the client’s architect and contractors to find the most effective solution to each design challenge.

Mauricio approaches his work earnestly, aware that his clients have entrusted him to design their most important private spaces. He takes this responsibility seriously and feels there is no better confirmation of a job well done than having a satisfied client sing the firm’s praises to a friend. Such a vote of confidence is truly music to Mauricio’s ears.

Before: Three-story, San Francisco residence with a nondescript facade

After: Increased interior space and punched up architectural interest

Before: Homey kitchen in need of an update

After: Streamlined and upgraded to a more sophisticated look

FIELD TRIP: TUCSON MINERAL SHOW

Opalized ammonite, a rare and valuable organic gemstone found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls Photos by Richard N. Snyder

The Wiseman Group is always on the lookout for unusual, one-of-a-kind objects for the home. The acclaimed Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, with its enormous selection of gems, minerals, and fossils, provides a target-rich environment.  Paul has great luck finding fascinating, richly beautiful items for clients.

Paul calls a client to tell her about one of his discoveries

Fossilized clam shells from Morocco

Intact turtle carapace fossil,  an Oligocene (34 to 26 million years old) "Stylemys" from South Dakota

Paul in front of a very large and exceptionally beautiful fossilized sea turtle formed during the Eocene period, c. 51 million years ago, in Wyoming

The show is held every year on the second full weekend of February (starting with a Thursday). It has set the standard for gem and mineral shows around the world and is now the largest show in the United States. It is open to the public and presents retail dealers only.

 

During the Show, Paul stays at the historic Arizona Inn. The resort hotel is spread over 14 acres of gardens with fountains, flowers and lawns in the heart of mid-town Tucson. The Arizona Inn has been family owned and operated since its creation in 1930 by Isabella Greenway, Arizona’s first Congresswoman and a lifelong friend of Eleanor Roosevelt. The Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Paul with large chunks of lapus lazuli from Afghanistan, a semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue color

All in all, The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is a wonderful field trip. The weekend has become one of Paul's favorite ways to find unique items for discerning clients.

FAVORITE SOURCES: MUNDER-SKILES

Teak table, chairs, ottomans, and Bali bed by Munder-Skiles Photo by Matt Millman

One of the pleasures of working in a creative field like interior design is having the opportunity to associate with talented, artistic people. The Wiseman Group's need to source high-quality exterior furniture led them to Munder-Skiles and its owner, John Danzer.  

John and Paul on the loggia in Belvedere Photo by Richard Snyder

Munder-Skiles offers a distinctive and customizable collection of 130 wood and metal designs, in styles ranging from historical to ultra-modern. Many of the designs are licensed from historic houses or taken from wonderful old designs and reworked for modern settings. 

KEVIN PETERS, CEO and CFO

From his third floor office, tucked under the gables of the marine-blue, restored Victorian that The Wiseman Group calls home, Kevin Peters presides over the running of the firm. As CEO and CFO, he wears many hats: he is in charge of accounting, administration, marketing, and human resources. Managing a firm the size of TWG, with its twenty plus employees and substantial design commissions, requires a steady, trustworthy presence at the helm. Kevin provides that and more.

Kevin is a native Californian who, in spite of exposure to many wonderful locales in his travels, loves his state and will always call it home. He was born in southern California, attended college in central California, where he received a BS in Business at California Polytechnic State University, and eventually landed in northern California in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his last year of college in San Luis Obispo, Kevin had the opportunity of a lifetime to co-found a company so successful that it has become a household name: Jamba Juice.
The Jamba Juice story is important, as it demonstrates Kevin's entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. He and a partner opened a juice bar in San Luis Obispo in 1990. The product was great, the operating system was tight, and the demand took off within the first year of business. Kevin and his partner incorporated in 1991, began franchise operations, and were soon approached by venture capitalists looking for the next Starbucks. Heady days followed, with a corporate move to San Francisco, invitations to speak to classes of business students, requests to serve as guest panelists at business seminars, write-ups in numerous magazines, and even a guest appearance by Kevin's partner on the Oprah Winfrey show. Kevin served as Vice President and, later, Director of Operations for the company.

By 2002, Jamba Juice had gone from the original store to 350 locations. Kevin realized that the tiny business he co-founded, once based out of his house and garage, had become a player in the fast food category. Seeking the opportunity to make a change from the food industry, he chose to return to a more intimate business setting and revisit his dream of being in the design business.

Coming to work for The Wiseman Group in 2003 proved to be a natural fit for Kevin. He had always had an interest in the design world, even reading and collecting Architectural Digest as a teenager. Little did he know that he would one day be running a world-class design firm. Combining his business background with his interest in design was a perfect melding of Kevin's skills. Kevin's predecessor taught him the intricacies of the design world before retiring, at which time Kevin assumed the company's key leadership role.

Kevin keeps an open-door policy, always ready to help when Paul needs his input, a staff member has a concern, or a client has a business question. Highly regarded by staff and clients alike, he takes a fair, balanced approach in running the company and is trusted implicitly.

The Wiseman Group has a worldwide reputation for superb business practices. When Kevin presents a contract to new clients, they can be certain that it will be clear in detail and transparent in its meaning. Clients know exactly what to expect of the firm and how their design goals will be achieved. By providing this peace of mind, Kevin allows them to relax and focus on the pleasure of working with the design staff to create a beautiful home—no small gift to those facing such an important undertaking.

Entrance hall of The Wiseman Group office